Casing for universal joints.



PATENTED MAY 19, 1903r cuvv. SPIGER. GASING'FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1902.

H0 IODEL.

j II II un I fl il'nln ii J I 1W! Mzmog Hl ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CASING'FOR UNIVERSAL JOl NTS.

SPECIFICATION i'orncung part of Letters Patent No. 728,779, dated May19, 1903.

Application filed September 2, 1902 $erial No. 121,730. (Nomodel To aZZwhom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. SPICER,a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Ithaca,

in the county of Tompkins and State of New- York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Casings for Universal Joints; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in universal joints, such as areemployed for transmitting motion between shafts or other rotatingobjects the angle between which is variable; and my invention consistsin novel means employed for covering such a joint and excluding dustandthe like therefrom and in the use of packing between the membersof suchcovering and in the novel means employed for setting up such packing.

Universal joints are extensively used in machine-tools and the like fortransmitting motion from one shaft to another which occupies a variableposition or angle with respect to the first. They are also used in thetransmission-gear of many automobiles for transmitting motion from aspring-supported engine or motor to the driving-Wheels. Various otherusesfor such-joints are also well known. An objection to their use asheretofore constructed isthat their wearing-surfaces are not efficientlyprotected from dust, metal chips and filings, and the like,for whichreason the efficiency of such a joint often decreases rapidly and thebearing-surfaces and journals become worn and cut. I

The object of my invention is to prevent dust, metal particles, and thelike from reaching the wearing-surfaces ofsuch joints withoutinterfering with the free movement, rotative and angular, of the membersof the joint.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which a universal joint fitted with one formof inclosing casing and various means for setting up the packingmaterial of such casing are shown and will then point out the novelfeatures thereof in claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 shows a side view of a universal jointprovided with an inclosing casing, the latter being shown in l employedfor setting up the packing material,

the parts of the casing being shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings, the uni- "versal joint itself consists oftwo members 1 and 2, of which either may be the driven member and theother the driving member.v

These members 1 and 2 terminate in jaws 3 and a, set in planes at rightangles and embracing between them a trunnion-block 5, to which the jaws3 and 1 are pivoted by means of pivot-pins 6 and 7, set at right anglesto each other., As is well known, such a joint permits transmission ofrotary motion from either member 1 or 2 to the other, although saidmembers are at an angle with respect to each other and although this,angle changes during the rotation. This joint is inclosed by a shell 8of spherical form, but having polar orifices of considerableextent,through which the shafts 1 and 2 project. This shell may be secured toone or boththe pivot-pins 6 and 7, as preferred. It is sufficient toconnect it to one of them. For convenience in assembling the parts ofthejoint it is preferable to form the casing in two parts, which may besecured together by screws and nuts, as shown. Each of the two members 1and 2 of the joint carries a spherically-shaped cap 9, closing the polarorifice through which that member of the joint projects and adapted tomove with respect to the casing 8 through a considerable angle whilekeeping such opening closed. The casing 8, with these caps 9, thereforecom pletely incloses the working parts of the joint without interferingwith free rotary motion of both members 1 and 2 of the joint and.without preventing free angular motion of one of said members 1 and 2with respect to the other. These caps 9 in themselves tend to hold themain portion 8 of'the casing in place and in the absence of connectionof such section 8 to one of the pivot-pins 6 and 7 would be sufficientfor the purpose; but it is preferable to have such section 8 connectedto one of the pivot-pins. To prevent the entrance of dust and the like,the casing8 may be provided with grooved recesses 10, adapted to containpacking material. Such packing material effectually excludes dust andthe like Without interfering with free angular movement of one of saidmembers 1 and 2 with respect to the other. The packing material alsofacilitates the lubrication of the joint by permitting a body of oil tobe kept within the casing without material leakage or escape bycapillarity or otherwise. The packing material employed may be felt orany other material suitable for the purpose.

It is sometimes desirable to provide means for compressing the packingmaterial from time to time to take up wear. In such case one of theconstructions shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and-5 may be employed. In theconstruction shown in Fig. 2 the casingS is provided with flanges 11,forming recesses for the reception of packing material, which recessesare closed in front by rings 12, arranged to be drawn up against thepacking material 13 by means of bolts 14. The face of the ring 12adjacent to the packing material is preferably inclined, so that as saidring is drawn up it tends to press thepacking material down against thesurface of the cap 9, thus tending to keep the joint between the casing8 and cap 9 tight. in Fig. 3 the casing Sis provided with groovedrecesses for the reception of the packing material, and a follower-ring16 within this groove is arranged to be set up by'screws 17,

and thereby to press the packing material against the cap 9. Figs. 4 and5 show the same construction, Fig. 5 being drawn to a larger scale thanFig. t. According to the construction shown in these figures the easing8 is provided with cylindrical flanges 18, over which flanged rings 19are adapted to be screwed. The packing material is inclosed between theflange 18 and ring 19, and by screwing up said ring the packing materialmay be compressed and forced against the cap 9.

It is obvlous that my invention is susceptible of various variations andmodifications in construction and in arrangement of the parts, and I donot limit myself to the particular constructions herein shown anddescribed.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with a universal joint, of a casinginclosing the same having apertures through which the driving and drivenmembers of the joint project and having spherically-curved surfaces inthe vicinity of such apertures, and spherically-curved caps carried bythe said driving and driven members of the joint, closing the saidapertures and arranged to keep the same closed during angular movementof one of said members with respect to the other.

2. The combination, with a universal joint, of a casing inclosing thesame of spherical form, having apertures through which the driving anddriven members of the joint project, and spherically-curved caps carriedby said driving and driven members but mounted concentrically withrespect to the casing, and arranged to close the said apertures thereof.

In the construction shown 3. The combination with a universal jointcomprising driving and driven members and a trunnion-block to which saidmembers are pivoted about axes at an angle with respect to each other,and a spherical casing inclosing said joint and carried by thetrunnionblock, having apertures through which the driving and drivenmembers project, and spherical caps carried by said driving and drivenmembers and closing said apertures.

4. The combination, with a universal joint, of a casing inclosing thesame having apertures through which the driving and driven members ofthe joint project and having spherically-curved surfaces in the vicinityof such apertures, and spherically-curved caps carried by the saiddriving and driven members of the joint, closing the said apertures andarranged to keep the same closed during angular movement of one of saidmembers with respect to the other; and means, other than said'caps,holding the casing in place.

5. The combination, with a universal joint, of a casing inclosing thesame having apertures through which the driving and driven members ofthe joint project and having spherically-curved surfaces in the vicinityof such apertures, and spherically-curved caps carried by the saiddriving and driven members of the joint, closing the said apertures andarranged to keep the same closed during the angular movement of one ofsaid members with respect to the other; and packing material between thecaps and the main portion of the casing. Y

6. The combination, with a universal joint, of a casing inclosing thesame having apertures through which the driving and driven members ofthe joint project and having spherically-curved surfaces in the vicinityof such apertures and recesses for the reception of packing material,and spherically-curved caps carried by the said driving and drivenmembers of the joint, closing the said apertures and arranged to keepthe same closed during angular movement of one of said members withrespect to the other.

'7. The combination, with a universal joint, of a casing inclosing thesame having apertures through which the driving and driven members ofthe joint project and having spherically-curved surfaces in the vicinityof such apertures, recesses surrounding said apertures, for thereception of packing material, and spherically-curved caps carried bythe said driving and driven members of the joint, closing the saidapertures and arranged to keep the same closed during angular movementof one of said members with respect to the other; and means forcompressing said packing material.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CLARENCE W. SPICER. Witnesses:

GEO. B. DAVIS, WILLARD M. KENT.

